In continuous pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing and to minimise imports by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’, Dept of Defence Production (DDP) notified 4th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 928 items on May 12, 2023, which includes LRUs/ sub-systems/ assemblies/ sub-assemblies, raw material, low value critical spares and components of DPSUs for time-bound indigenisation. These items are to be indigenised within the timelines of December 2023 to December 2029. As compared to previous year, 4500+ items of Srijan Portal including 173 PIL items, have been indigenised in 2023.

To give fillip to the ongoing indigenisation, a portal – www.srijandefence.gov.in – was launched in August 2020 for DPSUs/Services with an industry interface to provide development support to MSMEs/ Startups/ Industry for import substitution.

The MoD has successfully indigenised 10,451 items during the period of 3 years since the launch of Srijan Portal. More than 34,000 items were uploaded by the DPSUs and Service Headquarters on Srijan Portal for indigenisation by Industry. This includes the 4,666 items under PILs being notified by DDP.

Standardisation of defence equipment/ inventory is undertaken through 13 Standardisation Sub-Committees dealing with specialized equipment/ technologies. During 2023, a new Standardisation Sub-Committee namely, Marine Equipment Standardisation Sub-Committee, was formed to formulate Standards for Marine Equipment.

During 2023, training on standardisation and codification was imparted to 333 personnel of Tri-Services, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSPs), Ordnance Factories and civil industries, through two Training Institutes located at Pune and Badarpur (New Delhi).

The 14th edition of Aero India-2023 was held from 13th–17th February at Bengaluru, Karnataka and has been the largest ever edition since its inception in 1996 with more than 100 countries, 809 exhibitors, first ever Fly past with 53 aircrafts showcasing our airpower to global attendees and a total footfall of 7+ lakh visitors over five days.

Start-ups promotion was a focus area at Aero India-2023 with Indian Start-ups being showcased at an exclusive iDEX pavilion, and at the Chiefs of Air Staff Conclave. The Annual Start-up event ‘Manthan’ was also conducted. The maiden iDEX Investor Hub (iIH) was conducted with over Rs 200 crore pledged during iIH.

A concerted effort was made towards forging B2B partnerships at the ‘Bandhan’ ceremony and more than 250 such partnerships with a total value of more than Rs 75,000 crore have been finalized. The partnerships are a step towards increasing traction for business, ToT and Joint development between the companies.

Defence Exports

Export leads received from various stakeholders are being disseminated to the registered Indian Defence Exporters through online portal. This facility helps the Indian defence exporters to quickly respond to export opportunities arising in other countries. The online portal has been upgraded with a feedback mechanism from Indian Industry for online monitoring/ follow-up of the disseminated export leads. Total 245 leads have been disseminated through the portal since Jan 2023.

In order to boost defence exports, webinars were organized with Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs) under the aegis of DDP, MoD through Industry Associations. Total 26 webinars have been organised since Jan 2023.

A scheme for financial assistance to Defence Attaches (DAs) for promotion of “Brand India” in defence was approved by the RM in Nov’ 2023. Under this scheme DAs have been mandated for export promotion of Indigenous defence products of both public and private sector through enhanced financial grants to the Indian missions. For FY 2023-24, DAs of 64 countries were allocated a total of Rs. 3.76 crores.

An institutional support mechanism has been created for facilitation and hand-holding of Indian defence companies for promoting the export of UN Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) to troop contributing countries.

In line with India’s Defence Export Strategy to enhance defence exports, 1310 Export Authorisations were issued by Dept of Defence Production to 73 countries during 2023, having value of Rs. 13345 crore.

Defence Innovations

During 2023, 101 winners of iDEX challenges were declared, 131 contracts were signed and 15 prototypes were developed. Three versions of Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC) i.e., DISC 8, DISC 9 & DISC X were launched. Three versions of Open Challenges, i.e., OC 7, OC 8 & OC 9 were launched.

iDEX in partnership with US DoD conducted the India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUX-X) event in Washington DC, USA on 20-21 June 2023. The initiative will expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the start-up eco-system, businesses, and academic institutions.

iDEX Investor Hub (iIH) brought additional funding of Rs 50 cr through ITI Growth Opportunities Fund (a venture capital fund of the Investment Trust of India group), raising the total iIH amount to Rs 260 cr.

Swavlamban 2023. During Swavlamban 2023 event on 4 Oct 2023, Raksha Mantri launched a number of initiatives.

Collaboration with US DoD. Along with 76 Challenges of DISC X, 5 problem statements under iDEX 4 Fauji and first 2 challenges under ‘INDUS-X Mutual Promotion of Advanced Collaborative Technologies’ (IMPACT were jointly launched by iDEX and United States Department of Defence (US, DoD).

iDEX-Navy Venture for Technology (iNVent): Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) and Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) entered into an MoU for jointly working on facilitating the infusion of Venture Capital into the defence ecosystem through the iDEX Investor Hub (iIH).

DAC Approvals. Indigenous Design & Development of Defence Systems has been undertaken through ‘Make Procedure’ provided under Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020. In 2023, 18 projects were accorded ‘Approval-in-principle’ bringing the total tally to 149 projects. Also, 11 projects have been accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) in 2023, taking the number of AoN projects to 60.

Defence Industrial Corridors. Two Defence Industrial Corridors (DIC) have been established at Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to boost Defence Manufacturing ecosystem in the country with intent to attract investment of Rs. 10,000 Crore in each DIC. In Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the nodal agency, has signed 138 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with industries, etc. Actual investment of Rs. 2656 core has been made in UPDIC. In Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC), Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), the nodal agency, has made arrangements through 57 MoUs, etc. Actual investment of Rs. 4085 Crore has been made in TNDIC.

Helicopter Factory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated HAL’s New Helicopter factory in Tumkuru to the nation on 6th Feb ’23. During the same event, Prime Minister unveiled HAL’s indigenously designed and developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

DPSU’s Successes

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated first overseas regional marketing office of HAL in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 11 July 2023.

HAL received the ‘State Export Excellence Award’ (for the years 2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20) from Department of Industries and Commerce, Govt. of Karnataka under the category of ‘Govt. of India Undertaking Exporter’ on 22 Jul 2023.

HAL played key role in success of Chandrayaan-3 including on-time delivery of 30 types of rivetted structure, six types of welded structure and the satellite’s bus structure Rover, Lander and Castings & Forgings, appreciation received.

ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, successfully fired from Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7, off the coast of Goa on 23 Aug 2023. All the objectives of the test were met. This was a joint effort by ADA and HAL.

HAL received DGCA approval under ‘CAR21 Subpart G’ for series production of Hindustan 228 aircraft, indigenously built, as Make-in-India project and ‘Maintenance Type Training Certificate’ under CAR147 under category B1 and B2 for imparting AME type rated licence on Hindustan-228 aircraft.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited HAL Bangalore on 25 Nov 2023 and undertook a sortie on the LCA Tejas Twin Seater Aircraft. PM is the first Prime Minister of the Country who undertook a sortie in our home grown technology marvel-Tejas.

Indigenous Air Traffic Management System (ATMAS), jointly developed & installed by BEL and Airports Authority of India (AAI), was inaugurated & commissioned at Bhubaneswar airport on 27 Oct 2023.

Combat trial of indigenously developed Varunastra, a ship-launched anti-submarine heavy-weight torpedo (HWT) was successfully conducted on 6 June 2023 by Indian Navy. The Torpedo was fired from a submarine and successfully hit an underwater target demonstrating the combat worthiness and capable of meeting the Navy’s operational requirements. BDL has manufactured and supplied the torpedo and associated in integration, torpedo preparation for sea trials and firing onboard ship.

BDL has launched three new products i.e., Vertically Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL SRSAM), SAL Seeker ATGM for BMP II and Drone Delivered Missile (JISHNU) during the Bandhan event at Aero India held in Feb 2023.

BDL carried out field firing of 3rd Generation Fire and Forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile named Amogha-III on 26 Mar 2023.

The i-ATS (Indigenous- Automatic Train Supervision) system, developed by BEL, was formally launched on the Delhi Metro Red Line on 18 Feb 2023 from the Operations Control Centre (OCC), Shastri Park.

MIDHANI indigenously developed SNI C276 sheets, a premier corrosion-resistant material. Alloy C276, strengthened with nickel, molybdenum, chromium, and a touch of tungsten, excels in oxidizing and reducing environments used for flue gas purification. This achievement was appreciated at BHEL SAMVAAD 3.0 held at New Delhi on 9 Nov 2023.

MIDHANI developed 1000th heat in the indigenously developed Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR) furnace within 6 years.

MIDHANI launched five newly developed products and signed 11 MoUs during the 14th edition of Aero India 2023, organised by BEL along with HAL, held at Yelahanka, Bengaluru on 13-17 Feb 2023.

The 4th ship of Project-17A “Mahendragiri”, built by MDL, was launched on 1 Sep 2023.

Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and Foundation for Science innovation and Development, IISC Bengaluru signed MoU on 29 July 2023 towards fostering joint development and implementation of AI technologies in the field of shipbuilding & defence applications.

GSL & Kenya Shipyards Limited signed MoU in Capacity Building & for collaboration in ship design & construction, during the bilateral meeting held between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Aden Bare Duale in New Delhi.

Yard ‘Infrastructure Augmentation Plan’ worth Rs. 1393.55 cr was executed in five phases and completed in all manners on 31 Mar 2023 by GSL.

Two Diving Support Vessels (DSV), indigenously designed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), are being built for Indian Navy for the first time by an Indian yard.

HSL has received three Inmex Maritime Excellence Awards in categories of Best Ship Repair Company, Best Technology Innovation and Women Leadership Award.

IOL has signed 13 MOUs valuing approx Rs 6,100 crore for cooperation in designing, development, manufacture, upgradation etc. of new products/ technologies with different parties like BEML and others.

In pursuance of MoD’s policy to promote ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ Programmes, IOL has indigenised many ex-import components/sub-assemblies using Srijan portal. IOL has placed 101 project sanction orders on Indian manufacturers, under Make-II scheme of DAP-2020 and 8 RFPs/EOIs have also been published. IOL has 189 items in PIL1 and 47 items in PIL3 Lists, out of which 184 Items have already been indigenised. IOL has also sponsored five innovative technology projects under iDEX.

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The sixth and last submarine of the Indian Navy’s Kalvari-class submarines of Project 75 was launched on 20 April at the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL). It is being manufactured jointly with the Naval Group, France. The first of the P-75 submarines was inducted into the Navy in December 2017.

The sixth submarine will now commence setting to work on various equipment and harbour trials. The crew will thereafter sail the submarine for the rigorous sea acceptance trials after which it would be delivered to the Indian Navy by late 2023.

These six submarines will add to the Navy’s underwater capability as most of the 15 conventional submarines with India are more than 25 years old.

Project 75 (India)

The decision on Project 75 (India) is getting delayed and even if it gets the go-ahead it might take another two years to begin. Project-75(I) envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines with contemporary equipment, weapons and sensors including AIP (Air Independent Propulsion), advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state of the art countermeasure systems.

This would provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project.

While P-75 is reaching the end of its cycle the contract for the next six should have been signed as it would lead to a gap of a few years again till the next set of submarine construction will start. The contract for P-75 was signed in 2005. Earlier, in 1994 India manufactured two German submarines but the gap of 11 years led to loss of this specialised skill.

Next-Gen Offshore Patrol Vessels

Goa Shipyard Limited has emerged as the leading shipyard to build the Indian Navy’s next generation off-shore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) and eight fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard.  A  contract for seven NGOPVs valued at around Rs 9,000 crore is expected to be signed with GSL while four will be built by another shipyard.

The naval off-shore patrol vessels will play a key role in protection of offshore assets, undertaking mine countermeasure operations through modular payloads and also aid special operations.

GSL has undergone various modernisation. It emerged as L1 (lowest bider) for a contract to build fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard and to build the Navy’s next generation off-shore patrol vessels.

In 2018, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved the procurement of six indigenously designed NGOPVs for the Indian Navy at an approximate cost of Rs 4,941 crore. The contract was awarded to the Anil Ambani-owned Pipavav Shipyards but was ultimately scrapped due to several delays. The defence ministry then increased the number of platforms for the Indian Navy to 11 in December 2020 and a tender worth over Rs 9,000 crore was floated, which GSL is now on the verge of bagging.

The NGOPVs will strengthen India’s maritime security as the acquisition of the advanced patrol vessels will help the navy track and counter the steady rise in the deployment of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean Region and in Indian waters.

Multi-purpose Vessels Deal with L&T

The Ministry of Defence, on 25 March, signed a contract with Indian conglomerate, Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) for the acquisition of two multi-purpose vessels (MPVs) for the Indian Navy. The Rs 887 crore deal was signed under the “Buy-Indian” category. Delivery of vessels is scheduled to commence from May 2025.

MPVs will be the first of its kind platform, constructed to provide a cost-effective solution to meet a variety of requirements of the Indian Navy. These vessels, to be built by L&T shipyard at Kattupally (Chennai), will perform multi-role support functions such as maritime surveillance and patrol, launching/ recovery of torpedoes and operation of various types of aerial, surface and underwater targets for Gunnery/ ASW firing exercises.

These vessels would also be capable of towing ships and rendering Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support with limited hospital ship capability. They will also act as a trial platform for naval weapons and sensors under development, a support platform for ISV and salvage operations, and to provide logistics support for India’s island territories.

High-speed Interceptor Boats Inducted

The Indian Navy inducted two Fast Interceptor Craft (FICs) into its fleet in Kolkata, on 16 March, to beef up its coastal security. The vessels will enable enhanced riverine patrol on the Hooghly river as well as gradually extend patrolling capability seawards.

The high-speed vessels – T323 and T324 – capable of operating in shallow waters were acquired for Sagar Prahari Bal, a unit of the Navy created post 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as part of the coastal security construct.

The high-speed vessels can operate in the Hooghly as well as in the Bay of Bengal at sand heads and can reach speed of up to 45 knots. The FICs positioned by the Indian Navy will augment the Coastal Security capability of the Indian Navy in the State of West Bengal.

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These surface platforms will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by GSL under Buy (Indian-IDDM) Category. These eight high speed vessels will be based along the coast of India with capability to operate in shallow waters and enhance the security apparatus along the vast coast line.

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